Feeling frustrated at work? Maybe you’re experiencing stress, overwork, or one of the many other negative things that can come with having a government job. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it may be time to speak up about what you can do about it!
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how you can resolve some common issues that come with being a government employee and identify what options are open to you if your employer won’t cooperate with changing things.
Let’s take a look at some of the common problems facing
government workers and see how we can change them!
Problem 1: Lack of variety.
Working a 9-5 job with weekends off may sound appealing but the lack of variety is enough to drive most people insane.
When an individual is working as part of a team that has similar responsibilities and tasks every day, they find themselves doing the same thing repetitively without being challenged by new ideas.
This can quickly become boring, leading to stress or depression for some people. Another reason for this problem stems from the risk of the person feeling unsafe and not learning anything new; if an individual does not feel safe or learns something new, this may cause them to look for another job or work elsewhere instead.
The workplace environment should be enjoyable and provide challenges for individuals so they are always stimulated intellectually.
Problem 2: Low pay:
Most Americans want to take pride in their job and want to earn enough money where their hard work will allow them to buy food, pay bills, and support their family.
The problem lies when one does not
make enough money due to how much time they put into the company during a week
or month.
Problem 3: Less pay, but more work.
This is the problem of not getting paid enough to balance your workload. This is something that is often felt by people who are at the bottom of the company or have taken a part-time position when they really wanted to work full-time.
For example, if you're making $7.00 per hour for 40 hours a week, this translates to just over $14,000 a year.
Unfortunately, even with our education and experience, and certifications, there are not many jobs that pay us anywhere near that much money. It is discouraging when we feel like we could be doing more and getting paid more elsewhere because we see the work others do but don't get paid nearly as much.
What should we do in these situations? The first thing we should ask ourselves is whether or not this job suits our strengths and skill set. If it doesn't, then find a new one that does! Don't wait around expecting things to change sometimes things will improve, and other times they won't.
What you want might simply be out of reach right now. But you still need to make ends meet so how do we manage this? First, look for ways to boost your income.
Start looking into ways you can either raise prices on products or services you offer (like lawn care, housecleaning, and babysitting) or take on extra shifts (at any place where you currently work).
Then contact your employer to talk about an increase in pay. There may not be room for an increase right away but perhaps they'll agree to put some money into a retirement account that'll help supplement your income in retirement (which would benefit them too!).
You may also want to consider taking on side gigs
like tutoring online through platforms such as Skillshare or work and
boosting your income while still keeping time open for your day job.
Problem 4: No place to grow.
People often become bogged down with all the challenges they face in their jobs and forget that, as employees, they have much more autonomy than one might think. For instance, if a person is not happy at his or her current position for whatever reason, there are a few ways to try to fix that issue without completely switching roles.
If your company has an Employee Success program and/or offers voluntary reassignment opportunities, this could be a viable way to change things up while keeping all your valuable skills.
As many people are choosing between work-life balance and career
progression, remember that these two things don’t always need to be mutually
exclusive. The key is finding a balance between them.
Problem 5: Unequal pay scale.
You know that feeling when your coworker gets a promotion
and you're frustrated because of the unequal pay scale? Yeah, we've been there
too. If a company continues to ignore this issue, their employees will leave en
masse for jobs where they feel valued and are compensated appropriately.
Remember - equal opportunity shouldn't just be given on paper. It should also be experienced every day at work. The best way to tackle these issues is by acknowledging them head-on and working together with your managers to make sure everyone is getting the same opportunities.
Maybe you
don’t think this is an issue or have noticed other areas of concern that need
attention? We’d love to hear from you and get your feedback so we can help keep
the conversation going!
Problem 6: No career growth.
Public sector jobs, like federal and state employees, often don't provide a clear career growth path. In this scenario, public sector workers either stagnate within their current positions or are forced to find different jobs with more room for advancement.
This is one of the main reasons that so many federal and state workers leave the public sector at an early age to seek out better opportunities elsewhere. A lack of opportunities within your field or company can often lead to a sense of boredom, general unhappiness with the workplace, and ultimately an early departure.
One way around this issue is to pursue educational courses outside of work hours through a nearby community college, online courses through Courser or university extension programs, or by getting certified by professional organizations.
Whether you're looking for a change in scenery or just want some peace of mind, pursuing new training is always worth the time investment.
Not only will it help boost your resume and make you feel accomplished, but earning additional credentials could help set you apart from other qualified candidates on the market.
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